Sunday May 16th

Dear Mother & the rest

Lest you hear some alarming reports as to what has happened me I must tell you that I have nothing more than a broken rib. My horse would not get out of the way of a motor till it was hit by it. We were knocked into a ditch & the horse tramped on my left side breaking the short rib. My left leg was bruised a bit but does not interfere with walking. I am now in a clearing station sitting at a table writing in comfort & not suffering a bit. It is when I try to move about that the stabbing pain comes. There is probably a providence in it to get me out of danger for a while. I will likely be sent over to England as they don't keep anyone who is able to go. My Senior Chaplain is with me in here so will see me through. Mabel feels it is worth while getting hurt to get me home for a while. I know I will. It is rather an indignity to have come through the hail of shot & shell at Ypres only to be knocked out by a Ford Motor Car. I am sorry because the boys will miss me if they go into action as they may quite soon again.

This is a glorious day (Sunday) & all seems very peaceful this far back from the line. There was very heavy cannonading all last night. I [?] hear good news this morning of progress at -

This hospital was a prison before the war. Part of it is 300 years old. This country is surpassingly beautiful & its agriculture 100 % better than ours but Oh the smells of the average farmyard.

I have just had a cable from Sir Max Aitken the "Eye Witness" for the Canadian Govt. and the Duke De Maurier who are just looking around. One must get to hospital to meet dignitaries. Next thing you know the King will be wanting to see my mother the dear. How I should love to have you over here to introduce you to him when he sends for me!!

How glad I am to have done a bit for the boys out here & to hear them say to me before I left this morning "Hurry back Major we don't know what we shall do if we get into another scrap without you" was a compensation for all the risk I took.

Now I must close. Don't worry about me I will be safer for the next month than ever before in this game I expect-

Lots of love from your own Son

Will